The Breitling Watch Blog

On October 18th, Breitling and the Frecce Tricolori met up at the Italian air base in Rivolto to reaffirm the longstanding partnership and to reveal a new Chronomat 44 bearing the flight team’s livery, along with a limited edition featuring the same design.

Among the many exceptional squads that are associated with Breitling, the Frecce Tricolori – the Italian airforce aerobatics team – holds a place of its own. In 1983, the brand with the winged B was chosen by the “tricolor arrows” to design their official watch. In doing so, Breitling worked closely with pilots in order to create an authentic aviation chronograph. A year later, in 1984, it was based on this ultra-functional, original and elegant watch, that the brand launched its famous Chronomat – that has since become its star model and was recently reinterpreted.

Almost 30 years later, Breitling is perpetuating these ties by creating for the Frecce Tricolori a special version of the Chronomat 44 customized in the team colors. For devotees of high-flying feats and aviation in general, the firm is also offering a 1,000-piece limited edition with the same exclusive design. Its black dial (like the original 1983 model) bearing silver-toned counters with red hands is distinguished by the team logo emblazoned at 12 o’clock. Composed of three arrows in the red, white and green colors of the Italian flag, it is topped with the inscription “P.A.N Frecce Tricolori” (P.A.N. standing for Pattuglia Acrobatica Nazionale). The caseback bears the engraved silhouette of the ten Aermacchi aircraft composing the squad. The ultrasturdy steel case and the bezel with black rubber-incrusted numerals feature satinbrushed tops and polished sides. Water-resistant to the exceptional depth of 500 meters (1,650 ft), the watch houses Manufacture Breitling Caliber 01, a highperformance chronograph movement entirely developed and produced by Breitling, and chronometer-certified by the COSC. It is available with a choice of wristbands notably including a new black rubber strap with embossed Breitling signature.

The Frecce Tricolori Chronomat 44 and the limited edition were presented during a special event organized at the patrol’s Rivolto airbase in north-east Italy. It was attended by team pilots, a number of Breitling guests, along with members of the military, leading personalities and key representatives of the national press.

I’m sure you guys will be interested to see the results of the BreitlingSource Greatest Breitling ever competition. The winner was The Breitling Navitimer 01! Not entirely a surprise, since its Breitling’s most iconic Chronograph, combined with their first In-House Chronograph 01 movement.

See the link below for the runner ups and a complete summary of the competition. Don’t forgot to join us next year!

Results: http://breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43020

The Breitling Jet Team, Breitling Wingwalkers and Yves “Jetman” Rossy are flying East for winter, to bring Breitling’s passions for aviation to new audiences in what is being collectively called “The Breitling Dragon Tour”.

All three teams are heading to Asia to participate in Airshow China 2012, held in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. Although the 1940’s Stearmans of the wingwalking team and Yves Rossy’s Jetwings can all be shipped there in containers, the Breitling Jet Team will have to get there with their own wings. Leaving from Dijon this Tuesday, they will fly through Eastern Europe, into Russia passing through Siberia, then on to Mongolia and down through China to reach their destination by mid-October.

Breitling Aviation Director, Nigel Lamb flew the first civilian aerobatic team in China in 1996: “There is such an incredible fascination and enthusiasm for aviation in China, the team is well remembered even to this day. I’m looking forward to going back with all three teams and entirely different spectacles from Europe. Hopefully, this is just the start of the adventure. We’re looking into keeping the Breitling Jet Team in Asia for 2013 and organizing a series of tours in the region.”

Breitling Jet Team leader, Jacques Bothelin continues: “While we are there we want to make the most of our opportunities, we will miss the European 2013 season, but it will be exciting to explore new countries and display to new crowds. We’ll be back in Europe early 2014 with some great experiences to relay.”

Breitling watch saves the life of stranded hunter on August 15th, 2012

Emergency Transmitter in Watch Alerts Alaska Rescuers to Missing Man’s Location

A watch made more than a fashion statement when it helped save a stranded hunter’s life in Alaska on August 15th. Mark Spencer was hunting grizzly bears about 120 miles northeast of Anchorage when he became stuck in the wilderness along Susitna River in the heart of the infamous Alaska Range. Unable to navigate the hazardous Class 6 rapids of the Susitna River, his float-hunting party had diverted the course of their boat to the Tyone River. But the river route proved too shallow for their vessel. Spencer left his group and went searching for help on the glaciated Susitna River and struck a shoal tearing a hole in the vessel sinking it in the icy waters. He had spent more than 48 treacherous hours struggling for his life among the unrelenting elements of the Alaskan Backcountry.

“Breitling is the number one piece of equipment I always bring with me”, said Spencer, who works in the renewable energy industry. “Even if I lose everything, I will always have my watch. That gives me and my family peace of mind.”

The timepiece is designed with a micro-transmitter broadcasting on the 121.5 MHz aircraft emergency frequency. The transmitter is activated by unscrewing a protective cap and extending a short antenna. Despite the small size of the watch, the signal range is comparable to traditional hand-held Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) and can broadcast for 48 hours.

Spencer activated his watch’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) after a dangerous trek up the frigid Susitna River left him hypothermic and near death in the isolated backcountry. A rescue crew was able to pinpoint his location and lift him to safety by helicopter after they picked up the distress signal.

“It brings Breitling great pleasure to hear about this kind of customer satisfaction”, said Thierry Prissert, President of Breitling USA. “We’re hoping from now on he only has to use his watch to tell time.”

Navitimer Blue Sky Limited Edition 60th anniversary

Breitling celebrates the legendary Navitimer’s 60 years in flight

To mark the 60th anniversary of the Navitimer chronograph, the cult model among pilots and aviation enthusiasts, Breitling is introducing a 500-piece limited edition with an elegant dial in an exclusive shade of blue and aptly named the Navitimer Blue Sky.

In 1952, Breitling – already a firm fixture among aeronautical professionals – decided to create a new “wrist instrument” specifically designed with aviators in mind. The result was the Navitimer with its famous circular slide rule providing simple and fast handling of all calculations relating to airborne navigation: an authentic wristworn instrument panel. In an era preceding the advent of electronic calculators, this model unique in its kind was soon adopted by many pilots for flight preparation and monitoring – whether it came to calculating average speed, distance covered, fuel consumption or rates of ascent and descent. The only authentic aviation chronograph in widespread use, it was naturally chosen as the official watch by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the largest of its kind in the world and of which the logo often appears on models from the 1950s and 1960s. The Navitimer features a functional design and a highly original technical yet elegant look that is recognizable at first glance. It thus established itself as one of the ten great 20th century watchmaking classics, a timeless benchmark in its field and a reliable value. Continuously made since 1952, while remaining loyal to the aesthetic of the original, it is the world’s oldest mechanical chronograph still in production.

A handsomely stylish limited edition

To celebrate its 60 years in flight, the favorite watch among aviation enthusiasts is now available in a 500-piece steel limited edition with a magnificent blue dial, a silver inner bezel and a red central chronograph seconds hand. A handsomely stylish new face for the most emblematic Breitling model. A transparent caseback affords a chance to admire Manufacture Breitling Caliber 01, the best selfwinding chronograph movement. The series number is engraved on the case middle at 9 o’clock, and the color match is reinforced by an exclusive dark blue crocodile leather strap. The Navitimer Blue Sky Limited Edition 60th anniversary is also available on the Navitimer bracelet – or the highly original perforated Air Racer bracelet.

Navitimer: the legend lives on.